Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke admits it would hurt to miss the World Cup with his hopes of being at the tournament in Russia in the balance.

The 27-year-old striker has only scored twice in the Premier League this season for the Eagles and was left out of Belgium's squad for their recent international friendly with Saudi Arabia, although Red Devils boss Roberto Martinez insisted that he remained in the picture despite his absence from the 28-man squad.

But speaking ahead of Saturday's game at Selhurst Park with Leicester City - one of only two teams he has scored against in the Premier League this season - Benteke says he is still hopeful of a positive end to the campaign to help boost his World Cup hopes.

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"In the past I have had just one opportunity on the match and I scored," he is quoted by the Mirror.

"This year, I feel more involved in the game, I make more effort but I'm not rewarded. I do not say it's the fault of others, I'm clumsy, lack of lucidity, lack of success too. But I will work."

Christian Benteke looks on during the Premier League match between Burnley and Crystal Palace at Turf Moor in September. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

The former Aston Villa and Liverpool striker added that he understood why he was left out of Belgium's squad for the recent friendly against Saudi Araia, but he said that he has not given up hope of getting back into the squad in time for the World Cup.

And he explained what it would mean to him to be involved in Russia, to him and his family.

"I knew it was 50-50," he said of his absence from the Belgium squad last month.

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"I'm no longer a kid, I also knew the reason - it's my statistics and not the overall quality of my matches.

"If I look at those who play in my place, I think they're not in their best shape either. I should be in. In the end, the fact of not being in that squad had both negative and positive effect.

"Negative, because I did not make it, even if it was only for one game. The positive was that it allowed me to stay in my club and to be able to work on knowing why I was not taken in. And to address it.

"If I had to miss [the World Cup], it would hurt me, but I would recover.

Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke was left out of the Belgium squad for their recent friendly with Saudi Arabia. Photo: VIRGINIE LEFOUR/AFP/Getty Images

"For my family, my family, cousins, it would be different. It is also their dream.